The excellent spirit with which the Seniors took their imprisonment was quite enough to awaken suspicion in the minds of Middlers had they been in a cautious mood. But they were too uplifted with their recent success to think of aught else. Beside, there was little time now for planning and executing vengeance. Dr. Morgan gave a tea to the Seniors and their friends late that afternoon. Thursday evening was the date for the ball and banquet. Friday the general exodus would begin.
“What have you on hand for this morning?” asked Mary, as she and Elizabeth were dressing for breakfast.
“There’s plenty. I’m undecided what to do. One party is going boating; another plans to take a tally-ho ride, and have lunch under the trees which mark the place of the Wyoming massacre. The Freshmen are having a small “feed” down in room B. Everyone in this hall is invited. It’s a mild affair. Just drop in, eat a sandwich and salad, exchange addresses, and bow yourself out. I think I’ll go out boating first and then attend the Freshmen’s ‘drop-in.’ And you?”
Mary sighed. “I must rest a little for Dr. Morgan’s ‘at home.’ I haven’t had enough sleep for a week. I know I look like Medusa. I’ll start my packing, sort of get my personal belongings into shape. If I have time, I may walk down to the boat-house. But don’t wait for me. Any one of a score of trifles may delay me.”
This conversation took place about eight o’clock. That was the last the two girls saw of each other until Mary, decked out in her new gown, came down the hall on the way to Dr. Morgan’s apartments. Elizabeth, dusty and tired, had that moment returned from the day’s outing.
“You’ve been out in the sun, with only that brimless cap on your head,” was Mary’s greeting. “I should have warned you how sunny that boat ride is. I see two new freckles on the bridge of your nose now.”
“Well, if there’s only two, I shan’t mind. When will you be back?”
“In half an hour or so. Put on your cream colored dress for dinner. There’s to be doings afterward, and you’ll be ready. Were any of our girls with you?”
“No; I haven’t seen one to-day; neither at the boat-house nor on our ride.”
During commencement week, the regular order of meals was infringed upon. Dinner began earlier and lasted later than usual. The students took second place, giving precedence to the guests and Seniors. So it came about that the Middlers and Freshmen had scarcely finished before time for the beginning of the evening festivities.